Hot Shots – 2/15/23

Nonprofit Puts Emphasis On Mental Health

Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai‘i has renamed one of its funds The Rev. Dr. Gary Augustin Client Assistance Fund after the man who has been an integral part of the center for 25 years. The endowment provides mental health subsidies to individuals with limited financial resources. Presenting Augustin, who previously served as the center’s clinical director and executive director, with a certificate and lei are The Rev. Dr. Bert Sumikawa (left), Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai‘i’s board president, and Rachelle Chang, executive director.

PHOTO COURTESY SAMARITAN COUNSELING CENTER

A Caring Collaboration

Kathleen Moniz stands proudly with the new moped she recently won from NIU Honolulu’s giveaway. The business collaborated with Abstract Collab’s artist Kristie Fujiyama Kosmides and ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro to create a one-of-a-kind artwork on a NIU MQi+ Sport Moped. Entrants made online donations, and all proceeds from the giveaway were gifted to Hawai’i Foodbank to help with food insecurity. PHOTO COURTESY NIU HONOLULU

Organization Honors Surfing Champion

The Native Hawaiian global business enterprise DAWSON hosted a book-signing event with Luke Shepardson (third from left), a city lifeguard and recent winner of the 2023 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational. As part of the gathering, DAWSON made a $5,000 donation to Kyle Foyle (center) of the North Shore Lifeguards Association Junior Guard Program for the Keiki — a nonprofit created to provide lifesaving education to the North Shore community. Pictured (from left) are Derek Kekaulike Mar, cultural adviser with Hawaiian Native Corp. and general manager at DAWSON; Piilani Aikau (niece of Eddie Aikau); Shepardson; Foyle; Chris Dawson, chairman and founder, Hawaiian Native Corp. and DAWSON CEO; Stephanie Wright, brand director, Hawaiian Native Corp; and Steve Li, executive director and corporate counsel, Hawaiian Native Corp. PHOTO COURTESY DAWSON